{"id":3356,"date":"2025-02-09T08:54:08","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T13:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/?p=3356"},"modified":"2026-06-19T09:44:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:44:54","slug":"cfa-or-cpa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/","title":{"rendered":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CFA\u00ae is notorious for having one of the lowest pass rates of any professional exam, with rates for the CFA Level I exam hovering around<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfainstitute.org\/programs\/cfa-program\/candidate-resources\/exam-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> 40%<\/a>. The CPA exam isn&#8217;t much better, with rates around<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aicpa-cima.com\/certifications\/article\/24q1-cpa-exam-pass-rates\"> 40%<\/a> for two of the three Core sections. And yet, there are over<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfainstitute.org\/programs\/cfa-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> 200,000<\/a> CFAs and<a href=\"https:\/\/nasba.org\/licensure\/howmanycpas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> 670,000<\/a> CPAs.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why so many? It&#8217;s pretty simple: earn your certification, and you&#8217;ve practically guaranteed yourself a six-figure salary.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pretty enticing, right? But between CFA\u00ae vs. CPA, which one is the best fit for you?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, I&#8217;ll teach you everything you need to know\u2014exam difficulty, costs, salaries, job roles, and more\u2014so you can make the right choice for your future.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>CFA\u00ae vs. CPA Focus:<\/strong> CFA\u00ae charterholders specialize in investment management and financial analysis, while CPAs focus on accounting, tax, and auditing.<\/li> <li><strong>Exam Difficulty Differs:<\/strong> The CFA\u00ae exam has three levels over several years, while the CPA exam has four sections but a faster completion time.<\/li> <li><strong>Salary Potential Varies:<\/strong> CFA\u00ae charterholders in investment roles can earn $200K+, while CPAs in corporate finance or public accounting reach six figures.<\/li> <li><strong>Work-Life Balance Matters:<\/strong> CPAs have structured corporate roles but long tax seasons, while CFAs\u00ae often work long hours in finance or investment banking.<\/li> <li><strong>Best Choice Depends on Goals:<\/strong> Get a CFA\u00ae if you love investments and portfolio management; choose a CPA if you prefer accounting, tax, and financial reporting.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cfa-vs-cpa-what-s-the-difference\"><strong>CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before we get into the details, here\u2019s a quick breakdown of what each certification is all about.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-cfa\"><strong>What Is a CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA\u00ae) is a finance professional specializing in investment management, portfolio management, and financial analysis. The CFA Institute runs the CFA\u00ae program and is widely recognized in the finance industry.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CFA\u00ae charterholders work in roles such as:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Investment Analyst<\/strong> \u2013 Researches stocks, bonds, and financial markets.<\/li> <li><strong>Portfolio Manager<\/strong> \u2013 Manages investments for individuals or institutions.<\/li> <li><strong>Risk Analyst<\/strong> \u2013 Identifies and minimizes financial risks for companies.<\/li> <li><strong>Chief Financial Officer (CFO)<\/strong> \u2013 Oversees a company&#8217;s financial strategy.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-cpa\"><strong>What Is a CPA?<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Certified Public Accountant (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/what-does-a-cpa-do\/\">CPA<\/a>) is an expert in financial accounting, auditing, tax, and financial reporting. CPAs work in public accounting, corporate finance, and tax preparation and must <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam\/\">pass the CPA exam<\/a> and meet state licensing requirements.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CPAs work in roles such as:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Auditor<\/strong> \u2013 Examines company financial statements for accuracy.<\/li> <li><strong>Tax Accountant<\/strong> \u2013 Prepares and reviews tax filings for businesses and individuals.<\/li> <li><strong>Corporate Accountant<\/strong> \u2013 Manages a company\u2019s financial records and compliance.<\/li> <li><strong>CFO<\/strong> \u2013 Oversees accounting, financial reporting, and business strategy.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc <strong>Main Takeaway:<\/strong> CFA\u00ae professionals focus on investments and financial analysis, while CPAs specialize in accounting, tax, and audits.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-exam-amp-certification-requirements\"><strong>Exam &amp; Certification Requirements<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both the CFA\u00ae and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/how-difficult-is-the-cpa-exam\/\">CPA exams are challenging<\/a>, but they test very different skill sets.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-become-a-cfa\"><strong>How to Become a CFA\u00ae<\/strong><\/h3> <ul style=\"padding-left: 1.6em;text-align: left;--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em;);--ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-spacing: 0px;column-count: 1;--ub-list-mobile-column-count: 1\" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-e473c46f-a215-4064-973e-c993ecca2039\"> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-57804681-1b53-4977-a322-3b30b755b981\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Earn a bachelor\u2019s degree (or have equivalent work experience).<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-a5964d55-3721-4d3c-a0b9-250b0094c79a\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Pass the CFA\u00ae exam (3 levels, each taking 6+ months of study).<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-3c91d524-5d08-4e1a-a3a7-4e0f7a0c4d34\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Gain 4,000 hours of work experience in investment-related roles.<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-67a3bd60-5e46-426d-8282-3b635689c808\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Join the CFA Institute and follow their ethical standards.<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-become-a-cpa\"><strong>How to Become a CPA<\/strong><\/h3> <ul style=\"padding-left: 1.6em;text-align: left;--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em;);--ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px;--ub-list-item-spacing: 0px;column-count: 1;--ub-list-mobile-column-count: 1\" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-fc647027-dd27-4639-8069-a6a9aa47dd8b\"> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-88173a31-fb29-46fd-8df0-d47cda3d57cf\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Earn a bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting or finance.<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-caac04fb-3b1d-4ce4-a1e2-a9875a944a78\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Complete 150 credit hours (some states require a master\u2019s degree).<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-22d9c701-c401-44f7-9846-50622e4518f8\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Pass the CPA exam (4 sections with a 50% pass rate).<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-452193ba-9131-4714-8adc-3b7ed6b60e06\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Gain 1\u20132 years of accounting experience under a licensed CPA.<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 1.4em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-82394d74-0d9f-4154-a62a-aa2568b69dc5\"> <div class=\"ub_list_item_content\"> <span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\"> <svg width=\"1.4em\" height=\"1.4em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M470.6 105.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-256 256c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0l-128-128c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0L192 338.7 425.4 105.4c12.5-12.5 32.8-12.5 45.3 0z\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span> <span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">Apply for a CPA license and meet continuing education requirements.<\/span> <\/div> <\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-exam-is-harder\"><strong>Which Exam is Harder?<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The <strong>CFA\u00ae exam is longer<\/strong> (3 levels over 2\u20134 years) and has <strong>a pass rate of 40% per level.<\/strong><\/li> <li>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cpa-exam-sections\/\">CPA exam has 4 sections<\/a><\/strong>, with <strong>a total pass rate of around 50%.<\/strong><\/li> <li>Both require serious dedication, but CFA\u00ae candidates must master complex investment strategies and financial modeling.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cost-comparison-cfa-vs-cpa\"><strong>Cost Comparison: CFA\u00ae vs. CPA<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both certifications require a financial investment, but the CFA\u00ae program is usually more expensive over time, especially more than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cost-of-the-cpa-exam\/\">cost of the CPA exam<\/a>. Here are the total estimated costs:<\/p> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-56_18143-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-56\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-56 { ... } #supsystic-table-56 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-56 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } \/*.supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td a { background: #00d084; color: #fff; padding: 10px 10px; border-radius: 10px; font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-56_18143\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-56\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"56\" data-view-id=\"56_18143\" data-title=\"Cost Comparison: CFA\u00ae vs. CPA\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Expense\" data-order=\"Expense\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Expense <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CFA\u00ae \" data-order=\"CFA\u00ae \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >CFA\u00ae <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CPA\" data-order=\"CPA\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >CPA <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Exam Fees\" data-order=\"Exam Fees\" >Exam Fees <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$3,420 \u2013 $4,320\" data-order=\"$3,420 \u2013 $4,320\" >$3,420 \u2013 $4,320 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$1,579 \u2013 $1,979\" data-order=\"$1,579 \u2013 $1,979\" >$1,579 \u2013 $1,979 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Study Materials\" data-order=\"Study Materials\" >Study Materials <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$799 \u2013 $5,000\" data-order=\"$799 \u2013 $5,000\" >$799 \u2013 $5,000 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$1,000 \u2013 $6,000\" data-order=\"$1,000 \u2013 $6,000\" >$1,000 \u2013 $6,000 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Licensing Fees\" data-order=\"Licensing Fees\" >Licensing Fees <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$49 \u2013 $299 per year\" data-order=\"$49 \u2013 $299 per year\" >$49 \u2013 $299 per year <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$50 \u2013 $500 per year\" data-order=\"$50 \u2013 $500 per year\" >$50 \u2013 $500 per year <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Total Estimated Cost\" data-order=\"Total Estimated Cost\" >Total Estimated Cost <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$4,268 \u2013 $9,619\" data-order=\"$4,268 \u2013 $9,619\" >$4,268 \u2013 $9,619 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$2,629 \u2013 $8,479\" data-order=\"$2,629 \u2013 $8,479\" >$2,629 \u2013 $8,479 <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-56.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc CPAs typically pay less upfront, while CFA\u00ae candidates invest more money and time into passing all three exam levels.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cfa-vs-cpa-salary-comparison-amp-job-prospects\"><strong>CFA\u00ae vs. CPA Salary Comparison &amp; Job Prospects<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s talk money\u2014because both CFA\u00ae and CPA careers can be highly lucrative.<\/p> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-57_82682-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-57\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-57 { ... } #supsystic-table-57 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-57 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } \/*.supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td a { background: #00d084; color: #fff; padding: 10px 10px; border-radius: 10px; font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-57_82682\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-57\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"57\" data-view-id=\"57_82682\" data-title=\"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA Salary Comparison\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Career Stage \" data-order=\"Career Stage \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Career Stage <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Career Stage \" data-order=\"Career Stage \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Career Stage <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Career Stage \" data-order=\"Career Stage \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Career Stage <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Entry-Level\" data-order=\"Entry-Level\" >Entry-Level <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$70,000 \u2013 $100,000\" data-order=\"$70,000 \u2013 $100,000\" >$70,000 \u2013 $100,000 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$55,000 \u2013 $75,000\" data-order=\"$55,000 \u2013 $75,000\" >$55,000 \u2013 $75,000 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Mid-Career\" data-order=\"Mid-Career\" >Mid-Career <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$100,000 \u2013 $200,000\" data-order=\"$100,000 \u2013 $200,000\" >$100,000 \u2013 $200,000 <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$80,000 \u2013 $150,000\" data-order=\"$80,000 \u2013 $150,000\" >$80,000 \u2013 $150,000 <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Senior-Level\" data-order=\"Senior-Level\" >Senior-Level <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$200,000+ (CFO, Portfolio Manager)\" data-order=\"$200,000+ (CFO, Portfolio Manager)\" >$200,000+ (CFO, Portfolio Manager) <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$150,000+ (CFO, Partner)\" data-order=\"$150,000+ (CFO, Partner)\" >$150,000+ (CFO, Partner) <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-57.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: ZipRecruiter (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/Cfa-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>CFA<\/em><\/a><em>\u00ae,<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/Cpa-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em> CPA<\/em><\/a><em>),<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.becker.com\/blog\/career\/cpa-salary-insights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em> Becker<\/em><\/a><em>,<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfainstitute.org\/programs\/cfa-program\/careers\/credential-comparison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em> CFA Institute<\/em><\/a><\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc CFA\u00ae charterholders working in investment management tend to earn higher salaries, especially if they reach senior roles like Portfolio Manager or CFO.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc CPAs in corporate finance or public accounting can earn six figures, with opportunities to become a CFO, tax consultant, or audit partner.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-work-life-balance-amp-career-flexibility\"><strong>Work-Life Balance &amp; Career Flexibility<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your lifestyle and work preferences should also play a role in your decision.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cfa-work-life-balance\"><strong>CFA\u00ae Work-Life Balance<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Work hours:<\/strong> 50\u201380 hours per week (longer in investment banking).<\/li> <li><strong>High-pressure roles<\/strong> in hedge funds, portfolio management, and finance.<\/li> <li><strong>More travel<\/strong> for client meetings and investment research.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cpa-work-life-balance\"><strong>CPA Work-Life Balance<\/strong><\/h3> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Work hours:<\/strong> 40\u201380 hours per week (especially during tax season).<\/li> <li><strong>More structured 9-to-5 roles<\/strong> in corporate finance.<\/li> <li><strong>Public accounting firms can be demanding<\/strong>, but corporate jobs offer balance.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udccc CFAs\u00ae may face long hours in finance, while CPAs have more predictable schedules\u2014except during tax season.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cpa-vs-cfa-which-one-should-you-choose\"><strong>CPA vs. CFA\u00ae: Which One Should You Choose?<\/strong><\/h2> <style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"supsystic-table-58_87423-css\">\/* Here you can add custom CSS for the current table *\/ \/* Lean more about CSS: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cascading_Style_Sheets *\/ \/* To prevent the use of styles to other tables use \"#supsystic-table-58\" as a base selector for example: #supsystic-table-58 { ... } #supsystic-table-58 tbody { ... } #supsystic-table-58 tbody tr { ... } *\/ span.discount { margin-top: 6px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-weight: 400; width: 100%; font-size: 12px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(3) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th a:nth-child(4) { background: #1873cd; border: 1px solid #1873cd; } \/*.supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th {*\/ \/* padding: 65px 10px 20px;*\/ \/* position: relative;*\/ \/*}*\/ .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) th .editor_block:nth-child(1) { background: #32cd32; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; position: absolute; padding: 10px 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; top: 0px; left: 0; right: 0; } li.coupon_dis { list-style: none; } .dataTables_scrollBody .editor_block { display: none; } .editor_block::after { content: \"\"; position: absolute; left: 0; right: 0; margin: auto; height: 10px; width: 10px; background: #32cd32; top: 35px; transform: rotate(45deg); } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(4), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } .supsystic-table thead th img { width: 200px; margin: 0 auto; display: block; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td a { background: #00d084; color: #fff; padding: 10px 10px; border-radius: 10px; font-size: 16px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child { height: 80px; } .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a:nth-child(3), .supsystic-table tr:nth-child(1) a.external { color: #fff; padding: 4px 12px; width: 70%; border-radius: 50px; font-size: 9px; margin-top: 10px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 12px; } table.dataTable.cell-border tbody th, table.dataTable.cell-border tbody td { border-top: 1px solid #ddd; border-right: 1px solid #ddd; } tr:first-child th { background-color: #fff; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; } th:first-child, td:first-child { font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; } .supsystic-table tbody tr td { padding: 12px 10px !important; } td { font-size: 13px; text-align: center; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:first-child td { border-top: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .dataTables_scrollBody { border: unset !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td { border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead th { border-bottom: unset !important; border-left: unset !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:first-child { border-radius: 12px 0 00; border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table thead tr th { border: 1px solid #dddddd; } .supsystic-table thead tr:first-child th:last-child { border-radius: 0 12px 0 0; } .supsystic-table thead tr:last-child th:first-child { border-left: 1px solid #dddddd !important; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:first-child { border-radius: 0 0 0 12px; } .supsystic-table tbody tr:last-child td:last-child { border-radius: 0 0 12px 0; } <\/style> <div id=\"supsystic-table-58_87423\" class=\"supsystic-tables-wrap \" style=\" width:100%; visibility: hidden; \" data-table-width-fixed=\"100%\" data-table-width-mobile=\"100%\" ><table id=\"supsystic-table-58\" class=\"supsystic-table border lightboxImg cell-border\" data-id=\"58\" data-view-id=\"58_87423\" data-title=\"CPA vs. CFA\u00ae: Which One Should You Choose\" data-currency-format=\"$1,000.00\" data-percent-format=\"10.00%\" data-date-format=\"DD.MM.YYYY\" data-time-format=\"HH:mm\" data-features=\"[&quot;after_table_loaded_script&quot;]\" data-search-value=\"\" data-lightbox-img=\"\" data-head=\"on\" data-head-rows-count=\"1\" data-pagination-length=\"50,100,All\" data-auto-index=\"off\" data-searching-settings=\"{&quot;columnSearchPosition&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;minChars&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-lang=\"default\" data-override=\"{&quot;emptyTable&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoEmpty&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;infoFiltered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;lengthMenu&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;search&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;previous&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;next&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;zeroRecords&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;exportLabel&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;file&quot;:&quot;default&quot;}\" data-merged=\"[]\" data-responsive-mode=\"2\" data-from-history=\"0\" ><thead><tr><th data-cell-id=\"A1\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Factor\" data-order=\"Factor\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >Factor <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"B1\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CFA\u00ae \" data-order=\"CFA\u00ae \" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >CFA\u00ae <\/th><th data-cell-id=\"C1\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"1\" data-db-index=\"1\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"CPA\" data-order=\"CPA\" style=\"min-width:33.3333%; width:33.3333%;\" >CPA <\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A2\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Main Focus\" data-order=\"Main Focus\" >Main Focus <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B2\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Investments, financial analysis\" data-order=\"Investments, financial analysis\" >Investments, financial analysis <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C2\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"2\" data-db-index=\"2\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Accounting, tax, auditing\" data-order=\"Accounting, tax, auditing\" >Accounting, tax, auditing <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A3\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Common Jobs\" data-order=\"Common Jobs\" >Common Jobs <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B3\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Portfolio manager, investment banker, financial analyst\" data-order=\"Portfolio manager, investment banker, financial analyst\" >Portfolio manager, investment banker, financial analyst <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C3\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"3\" data-db-index=\"3\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Auditor, tax accountant, corporate finance\" data-order=\"Auditor, tax accountant, corporate finance\" >Auditor, tax accountant, corporate finance <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A4\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Salary Potential\" data-order=\"Salary Potential\" >Salary Potential <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B4\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$100K \u2013 $200K+\" data-order=\"$100K \u2013 $200K+\" >$100K \u2013 $200K+ <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C4\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"4\" data-db-index=\"4\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"$80K \u2013 $150K+\" data-order=\"$80K \u2013 $150K+\" >$80K \u2013 $150K+ <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A5\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Work Hours\" data-order=\"Work Hours\" >Work Hours <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B5\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"50\u201380 per week\" data-order=\"50\u201380 per week\" >50\u201380 per week <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C5\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"5\" data-db-index=\"5\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"40\u201380 per week (busy seasons)\" data-order=\"40\u201380 per week (busy seasons)\" >40\u201380 per week (busy seasons) <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A6\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Education Needed\" data-order=\"Education Needed\" >Education Needed <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B6\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Bachelor\u2019s + CFA\u00ae program\" data-order=\"Bachelor\u2019s + CFA\u00ae program\" >Bachelor\u2019s + CFA\u00ae program <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C6\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"6\" data-db-index=\"6\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Bachelor\u2019s + CPA exam (150 credit hours)\" data-order=\"Bachelor\u2019s + CPA exam (150 credit hours)\" >Bachelor\u2019s + CPA exam (150 credit hours) <\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"height:px\" ><td data-cell-id=\"A7\" data-x=\"0\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Best For\" data-order=\"Best For\" >Best For <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"B7\" data-x=\"1\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Finance professionals &amp; investment experts\" data-order=\"Finance professionals &amp; investment experts\" >Finance professionals & investment experts <\/td><td data-cell-id=\"C7\" data-x=\"2\" data-y=\"7\" data-db-index=\"7\" class=\"\" data-cell-type=\"text\" data-original-value=\"Accounting &amp; corporate finance professionals\" data-order=\"Accounting &amp; corporate finance professionals\" >Accounting & corporate finance professionals <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><!-- \/#supsystic-table-58.supsystic-table --><\/div><!-- \/.supsystic-tables-wrap --><!-- Tables Generator by Supsystic --><!-- Version:1.11.2 --><!-- http:\/\/supsystic.com\/ --><a title=\"WordPress Data Table Plugin\" style=\"display:none;\" href=\"https:\/\/supsystic.com\/plugins\/wordpress-data-table-plugin\/?utm_medium=love_link\" target=\"_blank\">WordPress Data Table Plugin<\/a> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-cfa-or-cpa\"><strong>Final Thoughts: CFA\u00ae or CPA?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udcbc <strong>Get a CFA\u00ae if you:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Love <strong>investments, portfolio management, and financial analysis.<\/strong><\/li> <li>Want to work in <strong>investment banking, asset management, or hedge funds.<\/strong><\/li> <li>Can handle <strong>challenging exams and long study hours.<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udcca <strong>Get a CPA if you:<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Enjoy <strong>accounting, tax, and financial reporting.<\/strong><\/li> <li>Want a stable career in <strong>corporate finance or public accounting.<\/strong><\/li> <li>Prefer a <strong>structured certification process with quicker ROI.<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whichever path you choose, both CFA\u00ae and CPA careers lead to exciting opportunities and high earning potential. Now, it\u2019s up to you to decide which one fits your career goals and lifestyle. \ud83d\ude80<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738905357659\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a CFA\u00ae better than a CPA?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It depends on your career goals\u2014CFA\u00ae charterholders specialize in investments and portfolio management, while CPAs focus on accounting, tax, and financial reporting.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738905367444\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Who gets paid more, CPA or CFA\u00ae?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">CFA\u00ae charter recipients in investment management can earn $200K+, while CPAs in corporate finance or public accounting can reach six figures, especially at senior levels.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738905372771\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can a CFA\u00ae do accounting?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, CFAs\u00ae focus on investment analysis and financial planning, while CPAs are licensed to handle accounting, audits, and tax compliance.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738905378702\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Should I get a CFA\u00ae or CPA first?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">If you want to work in accounting or corporate finance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/become-a-cpa\/\">become a CPA<\/a> candidate first. If you&#8217;re aiming for investment banking or asset management, go for the CFA\u00ae.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738905384266\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What&#8217;s higher than a CPA?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Higher roles include CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Partner at an accounting firm, or adding credentials like CFA\u00ae, CMA, or MBA to boost the flexibility of your career path.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The CFA\u00ae is notorious for having one of the lowest pass rates of any professional exam, with rates for the CFA Level I exam hovering around 40%. The CPA exam isn&#8217;t much better, with rates around 40% for two of the three Core sections. And yet, there are over 200,000 CFAs and 670,000 CPAs. Why [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3357,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,241],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-accounting"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"7500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"4167\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"image\":false,\"name\":null,\"jobTitle\":\"Writer\",\"url\":false,\"description\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1016,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/8\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/CFA-vs-CPA.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"Accounting\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/\",\"name\":\"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/8\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/CFA-vs-CPA.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905357659\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905367444\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905372771\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905378702\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905384266\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/8\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/CFA-vs-CPA.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/8\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/CFA-vs-CPA.png\",\"width\":7500,\"height\":4167,\"caption\":\"CFA vs CPA\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905357659\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905357659\",\"name\":\"Is a CFA\u00ae better than a CPA?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It depends on your career goals\u2014CFA\u00ae charterholders specialize in investments and portfolio management, while CPAs focus on accounting, tax, and financial reporting.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905367444\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905367444\",\"name\":\"Who gets paid more, CPA or CFA\u00ae?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"CFA\u00ae charter recipients in investment management can earn $200K+, while CPAs in corporate finance or public accounting can reach six figures, especially at senior levels.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905372771\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905372771\",\"name\":\"Can a CFA\u00ae do accounting?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, CFAs\u00ae focus on investment analysis and financial planning, while CPAs are licensed to handle accounting, audits, and tax compliance.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905378702\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905378702\",\"name\":\"Should I get a CFA\u00ae or CPA first?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"If you want to work in accounting or corporate finance, <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/become-a-cpa\\\/\\\">become a CPA<\\\/a> candidate first. If you're aiming for investment banking or asset management, go for the CFA\u00ae.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905384266\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.charlotteobserver.com\\\/careers-education\\\/cfa-or-cpa\\\/#faq-question-1738905384266\",\"name\":\"What's higher than a CPA?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Higher roles include CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Partner at an accounting firm, or adding credentials like CFA\u00ae, CMA, or MBA to boost the flexibility of your career path.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?","description":"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?","og_description":"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/","og_site_name":"Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":7500,"height":4167,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","image":false,"name":null,"jobTitle":"Writer","url":false,"description":""},"headline":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?","datePublished":"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/"},"wordCount":1016,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","Accounting"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/","url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/","name":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png","datePublished":"2025-02-09T13:54:08+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-19T14:44:54+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"CFA\u00ae vs. CPA: Which is right for you? Compare exams, salaries, job roles, and career paths to make the best choice for your future in finance!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905357659"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905367444"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905372771"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905378702"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905384266"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/02\/CFA-vs-CPA.png","width":7500,"height":4167,"caption":"CFA vs CPA"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"CFA\u00ae or CPA: Which Certification Should You Get?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Charlotte Observer - Careers &amp; Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":""},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905357659","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905357659","name":"Is a CFA\u00ae better than a CPA?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on your career goals\u2014CFA\u00ae charterholders specialize in investments and portfolio management, while CPAs focus on accounting, tax, and financial reporting.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905367444","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905367444","name":"Who gets paid more, CPA or CFA\u00ae?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"CFA\u00ae charter recipients in investment management can earn $200K+, while CPAs in corporate finance or public accounting can reach six figures, especially at senior levels.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905372771","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905372771","name":"Can a CFA\u00ae do accounting?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, CFAs\u00ae focus on investment analysis and financial planning, while CPAs are licensed to handle accounting, audits, and tax compliance.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905378702","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905378702","name":"Should I get a CFA\u00ae or CPA first?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"If you want to work in accounting or corporate finance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/become-a-cpa\/\">become a CPA<\/a> candidate first. If you're aiming for investment banking or asset management, go for the CFA\u00ae.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905384266","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/cfa-or-cpa\/#faq-question-1738905384266","name":"What's higher than a CPA?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Higher roles include CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Partner at an accounting firm, or adding credentials like CFA\u00ae, CMA, or MBA to boost the flexibility of your career path.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"Accounting","url":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/accounting\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3356"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3356"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":3},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3356\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"attributes":{"id":11441},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3356\/revisions\/11441"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3356"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3356"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.charlotteobserver.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3356"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}